Does carrying a firearm increase suicide risk among adolescents, regardless of state gun laws?

Health · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Research indicates that adolescents who carry firearms are significantly more likely to attempt suicide, a trend that persists even when accounting for the stringency of state-level gun regulations. While public policy often focuses on legislative restrictions, the individual act of carrying a weapon remains a critical, independent indicator of risk.

A 2025 analysis of 23,232 high school students across 15 states revealed a stark correlation between firearm possession and self-harm. Among adolescents who reported carrying a firearm, 27.4% had attempted suicide in the previous year, compared to just 9.4% of non-carriers. When adjusting for variables such as race, ethnicity, and the strength of state firearm laws, the adjusted odds ratio for suicide attempts among firearm carriers was 3.48. This suggests that the association between carrying a weapon and suicide attempts is robust and independent of the legal environment in which the adolescent resides.

New York maintains some of the most restrictive gun laws in the United States, governed primarily by Articles 265 and 400 of the New York Penal Law. These regulations mandate permits for pistol possession and semi-automatic rifle purchases, while the NY SAFE Act bans specific features on semi-automatic weapons. Despite these stringent frameworks, the broader public health challenge remains complex. Legislative efforts, such as the 2022 legislation raising the purchase age for semi-automatic rifles to 21, reflect a state-level commitment to regulation, yet the individual-level behavioral risks identified in recent studies highlight the need for multifaceted prevention strategies beyond legal mandates alone.

Public support for firearm restrictions often fluctuates based on the perceived cost of enforcement. A 2025 study involving 306 US adults found that while a majority of the public supports restricting firearms in venues that serve alcohol, this support drops significantly when annual enforcement costs are introduced. For instance, while support can exceed 65% for restrictions in large venues, the introduction of a $100 annual cost diminishes public backing. This tension between policy goals and economic reality underscores why legislative progress is often difficult, even when there is broad agreement on the underlying public health objectives.

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